Both installments of the Still Breathing series, recorded from 2017-2018 with bassists Gerald Veasley and Alex Blake (respectively), are now available on CD! Head to the albums page for more info.

Kate Smith on the Still Breathing series: "I really admire Bill Cole’s work, the seriousness, complexity, and the relentless way he pursues a vision and the way his response to contemporary events informs his personal and an historical truth through music. I find his music always intriguing, surprising, provocative, and enjoyable, even when difficult, in all it’s many manifestations, including the playfulness in much of it even while being deeply, deeply serious. I like this project as I have all of his that I’m aware of. Breath on, deeply and musically, Bill!"

Join Bill Cole alongside Ras Moshe, Larry Rowland and Warren Smith for a night of free music at the Alwan Center for the Arts in New York on MAy 5th at 9 pm! For more information about this and future concerts, click here.

Bill Cole (right) alongside Larry Rowland (Left) and Ras Moshe (center) at The Ras Unit's last performance at the Brooklyn Commons in April.

Anders Griffen has penned a review of both Sunsumand Trayvon Martin Suite in the January 2017 edition of the New York City Jazz Record. He writes:

"This can be challenging music for some audiences, for some of the same reasons it is so rewarding: unusual instrumentation, focus on improvisation and the mastery of the players, which allows them an infinite freedom of expression. At once profound and accessible, this music rewards those who listen openly."

Bill Cole and the Untempered Ensemble performed at the Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church and the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center as part of a 3-day residency at the University of Virginia in November. Photos of the events, courtesy of Martin Phillips, Ras Moshe, Sarah Sully and Braelyn Schenk, can be found in the photo gallery.

Bill Cole would like to extend many thanks to the Rotcodzzaj.com for making "Sunsum" it's "Pick" for "best improvised jazz" in their 155th issue along with the publishing the following review;

"If you are truly a fan of improv, you won’t be able to do without this one in your collection… Bill’s work with wind instruments is unparalleled in today’s jazz world, & you owe it to yourself to have a listen."

"Good music serves one of two purposes: personal gratification or social awareness. Great music invites the listener into the secrets of the soul and raises and changes the level of socio-political consciousness forever. The music of the master reeds player Bill Cole and that of the prince of the low-toned woodwinds and more Joseph Daley has done all of the above with unexpurgated force, consistent clarity and true genius."

This is May 29th 2015. Today I found out that my great great nephew died from being shot in a drive by shooting in Pittsburgh. I learned this from my nephew, John Wallace. It's very sad to see this all is still going on – we as African-American people killing each other. The police are doing it well enough. Why do we continue to do this? What is wrong with us? Do we have so much self-hatred that we have to continue to kill each other? Over absolutely nothing but greed and avarice, dope and every other negative thing that we can think of? Why are we doing this to each other? Are we still slaves? Because the white people hate us so much, we should hate each other? It’s terrible that white people keep killing us out here. Why do we need to do it also? Why can’t we do something about this? Drugs? Gangs? All kinds of ridiculous stuff? We just buy into how the white culture wants us to be. It’s so sad, and it’s so awful.

"Each piece does a great job of capturing the spirit/vibe of what transpired that night and the mixed feelings we are all still dealing with due to too many other similar, continuing tragedies. This is an important, strong and immensely timely work that should be heard by many folks everywhere."

In case you missed it, here are photos of Bill Cole with the Untempered Trio (Bill Cole, Joseph Daley and Warren Smith) performing together at the Stone as part of Warren Smith's week in residency. All photos courtesy of R.I. Sutherland-Cohen / www.jazzexpressions.org. (click here for more)

For the first time, one of Bill Cole's album is available for MP3 download! You can check out "Sunsum," Bill Cole's latest release with the Untempered Ensemble, order a physical copy or download the album at CDBaby by clicking here.

Bill Cole is so very pleased to have received this piece of fan mail, with mentions of his 2013 tribute to Jayne Cortez, "Politics," as well as his cycles and his 2008 duet album with Billy Bang, "Billy Bang / Bill Cole":

Dear Bill,

Thank you so much for sending this music along. I really love the introduction on Jayne Cortez. Very beautiful. I remember Jayne Cortez from your cycles and her recitation of "If the drum is Woman," it stayed with me. This led me to listen to The Firespitters on YouTube. Wow! I was not aware of your music before the cycles but recognise [sic] the Firespitter Personel. It is quite nice to be able to expand my knowledge and interest with the internet. Loved seeing Lisette Santiago perform. Althea sounds so confident and poised.... A very nice tribute to your dear friend. I was inspired by the Yoruba Proverbs in your cycles, Warren does a beautiful job of filling out "It's Not Other People's Good Wishes That Makes One Rich, But One's Own Destiny." You are just ripping out on "Politics," and I wish this was sonar to the president's brain. At times Bill & Billy conjured up Julius Abdul, congratulatoins, you are really consecrating it. Keep making beautiful music.

Have some feedback on Dr. Bill Cole's work? We'd be so happy to receive it! Please forward any comments and/or inquiries to billcole@billcole.org

Bruce Lee Gallanter, writing for the Downtown Music Gallery, has published the first review for Bill Cole's latest album release, Sunsum. Here's an excerpt:

"I have caught (perhaps a half dozen) different versions of the Untempered Ensemble through the years and have always been knocked out by each & every performance. Same for this one.... All of the music here has a joyous, uplifting vibe which is consistently enchanting. This disc is nearly an hour long and a transcendent aura pervades throughout."

Bill Cole is very pleased to announce new concert dates and the release of a new album!

This month, on the 26th of February, Bill Cole will be performing with long-term colleagues Warren Smith and Joseph Daley at the Stone (located in the East Village, New York, at the corner of avenue C and 2nd street). The performance is a part of Warren Smith's week-long residence at the Stone, and will feature two sets: one at 8 pm and another at 10 pm. Don't miss out on a great night of free jazz with this Untempered trio, thirty years in the making!

Bill Cole will also be releasing a new album titled the Trayvon Martin Suite, a duet album recorded with Joseph Daly. More details soon!

Bill Cole is very pleased to announce that, SUNSUM, the latest release from Bill Cole's Untempered Ensemble, has been officially released. The album was recorded on July 7th, 2014 at the San Clemente Soto Cultural Center in New York as part of the Evolving Music Series of Arts of Art. It is the group's 8th album and features Bill Cole, Warren Smith, Joseph Daly, Lisette Santiago, Ras Moshe, and Gerald Veasley.

This album will available at The Downtown Music Gallery (13 Monroe Street, New York, New York - also takes online orders) and The Bop Shop (1460 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, New York - also takes online orders). However, you can order the CD NOW via e-mail: just send your request to billcole@billcole.org.